Cigarette-making device.



- Patented Aug. I3, 1901.

H. J. VALENTINE.

CIGARETTE MAKINGDEVICE.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1901.)

(No, Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l,

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- H. J. VALENTINE.

CIGARETTE MAKING DEVIG E.

(Application filed. Apr. 28, 1901. (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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UNITED STAT-Es -PATENT- OFFICE.

HARRY J. VALENTINE, OF HEMPSTEAD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM VOGEL AND BROTHERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

CIGARETTE-MAKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 680,295, dated August 13, 1901.

' Application filed April 23, 1901. Serial No. 57,o55. (IlomocleL) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, HARRY J. VALENTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hempstead, county of Nassau, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigarette-Making Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cigarette-making devices or implements of the class which can be carried in the pocket, so that the cigarettesmoker can quickly roll a cigarette and make the same by means of the device without the annoyance and inconvenience of fingerrolling.

The object of the present invention is to produce a cigarette-making device which is compact in form and in which the main parts are collapsible or telescopic, so that when the device has been used the operative parts can be collapsed or telescoped within the box or case, so as to form a very compact device.

With these ends in view my invention consists of a cigarette-making device which comprises a box or case for containing a quantity of tobacco, at forming-tube collapsing or telescoping into the box or case and being shorter than the same, so'that it may be completely inclosed therein, and means adapted to be connected with the inner end of the formingtube for protruding it from the box or case for use.

My invention further comprehends an actuating-rod guided in the case and detach-. ably connected with the plunger by means of a friction-coupling,'so that the actuating-rod and the plunger may be extended and connected for use and may be disconnected and collapsed when not in use.

My invention also consists of certain details of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then particularly claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of a cigarette-making device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device. Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken detail view showing the friction-coupling connection for the actuatingrod and the plunger, the coupling being in action. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar View, the coupling for connecting the actuating-rod and plunger being out of action. Fig. '7 is a perspective View showing my device for making cigarettes in use, and Fig. 8 is a longitudinal central section of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a suitable sheet-metal box or case which is preferably provided with a hinge ct and a suitable snap-fastening or equivalent device a, whereby the members of the box 'may be held in closed position. It is evident that the form of the box or case is immaterial. At one end of the box or case the same is provided with an internal guide-neck B, which is in line with a preferably countersunk or rabbeted portion b, which surrounds an opening in the inner end of the box or case in line with the said guide-neck. The opening at the outer end of the neck B is preferably closed by means of a spring-actuated automatically opening cap or lid 0, which is arranged in the rabbeted or countersunk portion 6 of the box or case, so that the cap will be flush with the outer surface of the box. Guided in the guide neck B is a forming-tube D, which is provided at its innor end with a stopflange d, which preferably limits the outward movement of the formingtube, so that when the forming-tube is extended the wrapper W which is to be produced may be rolled upon it. The formingtube is provided, preferably, with a bayonetjoint connection with the box or case A, so that when it is extended it may be positively locked against being accidentally pushed in. This bayonet-joint consists of an L-shaped slot d d, formed in the forming-tube D, the long log 01 of which slot extends approximately the entire length of the said tnbe,while a pin 61 projects inwardly from the neckB and is guided in the leg or portion cl. The slot d (1, in connection with the pin d limits the inward and outward movement of the forming-tube, while'when theforming-tube is protruded a slight rotation'of the forming-tube causes the same to be interlocked against longitudinal shifting with the pin 01 The opposite end of the box or case A is furnished with a guide-hole co in which is guided an actuating rod or wire E, which at its outer end is preferably furnished with a finger-ring orotherdevice or knob,such as E',wherebythe actuatin g-rod maybe taken hold of for the purpose of reciprocating it in and out of the case A. The inner end of the actuating-rod E is provided, as shown more clearly in detail in Figs. 4-, 5, and 6, with a tapering head (2, which is adapted to engage in a split springsleeve f of approximately corresponding shape, which is bent up from a sheet-metal plunger F, which is guided within the forming-tube D. By means of the spring-sleevef and the head e a friction-coupling is provided for detachably connecting the actuating-rod with the plunger. It will be evident that as the sleeve f is resilient, and therefore has a spring action, it is only necessary to pull out the rod E and thus move the head e into the said sleeve to efiect a coupling, as the springsleeve will bind or press upon the head, and to overcome this spring-pressure it is only necessary to push the head out of the sleeve and into the plunger, thus detaching the said parts. The inner end of the plunger F is provided with laterally-projecting wings, pins, or stops f at the inner end of the couplingsleeve fiwhich stops f are adapted to abut against the inner end of the forming-tube D. The body f of the plunger F is made tubular, so that the head e and the actuating-rod E therein may be guided in the tubular body. There are also arranged on the circumference of the tubular body one or more helical blades or flanges f so that the tubular body f is separated at a suitable distance from the inner wall of the forming-tube to provide a space through which the granular tobacco may pass through the action of the plunger, in connection with the wings or flanges thereof. Preferably the plunger is formed. as shownthat is to say, a strip flanged along both edges is twisted or wound helically and quite open, so that the tubular body and the helical blades or flanges are produced. The construction of the plunger, however, forms no part of the present invention, excepting in so far as announced in the claims.-

The described cigarette-making device is used as follows: The box or case A having been supplied with a quantity of granular or smoking tobacco, the operator grasps the box about as shown in Fig. 7, so that one finger may be used to operate the actuating-rod E. The operator now pulls out the actuating-rod E to its fullest extent, so that the head 6 thereon is engaged with the coupling-sleeve fof the plunger, as shown in Fig. 4. The actuating-rod E is now pushed in, together with the connected plunger, whereby the pins f on the plunger are brought in contact with the inner end of the forming-tube D, so that by this action the forming-tube is protruded orprojected into the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Having done this, the tube D is preferably'slightly rotated, so as to interlock with the pin d 'It will be observed that the cap or lid 0 will be automatically opened by the protruding action of the forming-tube. The operator now takes a paper wrapper from his pile and moistens it at one edge, rolls the same around the protruded forming-tube D, andtherebyformsatubularwrapperW. Having now done this, the wrapper is slid downward, as occasionally required during the filling operation, upon 'the forming -tube D. Again grasping the box about as shown in Fig. 7 and actuating the rod E by a number of up-and-down movements imparted to the plunger F acharge of tobacco is fed through the forming-tube'D and into the interior of the tubular wrapper W, the operator holding the wrapper by his other hand. A quick reciprocation of the plunger is kept up until the cigarette is formed, whereupon it is removed from the forming-tube D. To collapse the parts, the actuating-rod is pushed in by one hand, while the forming-tube is pushed in by the other hand until the parts collapse into the position shown in Fig. 2, the rod E collapsing into the tubular plunger F, while the latter collapses or telescopes into the forming-tube D. When the forming-tube is pushed in, the cap 0 automatically closes the opening and prevents the possible outflow of the tobacco.

The described device is quite unique in construction and possesses many evident advantages, among which may be enumerated that the box is unobjectionable, as it is no larger than the ordinary match-box and contains allof the mechanism within the same, it only being necessary to properly connect the parts for use.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1.- In a cigarette-making device, the combination, with a. box or case, of a formingtube collapsing or telescoping into the same, and being shorter than the box or case, so that it may be completely inclosed in the same, and means adapted to be connected with the inner end of the forming-tube, for protruding it from the box or case for use, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cigarette-making device, the coml bination, with a box or case, of a longitudiinally-shiftable forming-tube guided in said box or case, andv a plunger provided with suitable actuating means and adapted to feed a charge of tobacco through said formingtube, said forming-tube, when shifted into the box or case, fitting over or telescoping onto the said plunger, and the said plunger and forming-tube being of less length than that of the box or case so that they may be entirely inclosed therein, substantially as set forth.

3. In a cigarette-making device, the combination, with a box or case provided with a short interior guide-neck, of a forming-tube movable and guided into said box or case by said neck and having free communication at the inner end of said guide-neck with the entire interior of the box or case, and means for feeding a charge of tobacco through said forming-tube, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cigaretteqnaking device, the combination, with a box or case, of a formingtube collapsing or telescoping into the same and having a bayonet-joint connection with a portion of the box or case, and means for feedinga charge of tobacco through said forming-tube, substantially as set forth.

5. In a cigarette-making device, the com bination, with a box or case, of a collapsible or telescopic forining-tube adapted to be projected beyond the box or case, a plunger guided in said forming-tube, an actuatingrod, and a friction-coupling for the plunger and actuating-rod, substantially as set forth.

6. In a cigarette-making device, the combination, with a box or case, of a longitudinally-shiftable forming-tube, a plunger, and an actuating-rod, said forming-tube, plunger and actuating-rod telescoping or collapsing one within the other, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cigarette-making device, the combination, with a box or case, and a shiftable forming-tube guided in the box or case, of a plunger provided with suitable means of actuation, and provided with a stop or pin adapted to engage with the inner end of said forming-tube, substantially as set forth.

8. In a cigarette-making device, the combination, with a box or case, having an opening, and a spring-actuated cap or lid for closing said opening,of a longitudinally-shiftable forming-tube guided in said opening and adapted to automatically open said cap, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with a box or case pro= vided with a forming-tube, of a hollow plun ger adapted to work in said tube, an actuating-rod telescoping into said plunger, a fric-' tion=sleeve on the plunger, and means for frictionally engaging a portion of said actuating-rod with said sleeve, substantially as set forth.

10. .The herein described tubular plunger provided with exterior blades or flanges, in combination with an actuating-rod detachably connected With and guided in the tubu lar plunger, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname in pres ence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY J. VALENTINE Witnesses:

W. J. COMFORT, Louis C. HAARS'IECK; 

